investment

In our last piece, we covered the recent uptick in inflation, and what to make of it in a historical context. For investors, it’s important to take a step back and look at the big picture before acting on breaking news, but what if inflation does get out of hand, and stays that way for a while? 

Has the specter of inflation got you spooked? Recent headlines are filled with sightings. In this two-part series, let’s take a closer look at what to make of all the commentary and what you can do about it as an investor. First and foremost, we caution against succumbing to fear or panic in the face of inflation. As usual, careful planning remains your best guide.

We covered a lot of ground in parts 1 and 2 of this three-part series on cryptocurrency. You may or may not be interested in using cryptocurrency as a means of exchange, but what about trading in it, directly or in fund form? If you’re considering that possibility, know that at this point: 

US consumer prices were up by 5.4% for the year ending June 2021, the largest annual increase since August 2008.¹ Naturally, inflation is at the center of attention for many US investors.

INFLATION OUTPACED

As we swing into the second half of 2021, consider this quote from a book first published back in 1954: 

“A river cannot, we are told, rise above its source. Well, it can seem to if there is a pumping station concealed somewhere about.” 

AMC and GameStop are priced squarely in the large cap growth space and yet represented nearly 1.5% of the Russell 2000 Value Index as of May 31. On the scale of size discrepancies, this is akin to 7-foot-6-inch former NBA star Yao Ming visiting a kindergarten class.

In part 1 of our three-part series, we introduced cryptocurrency in general. Next, let’s explore the challenges and opportunities that exist for those hoping to earn, store and spend their bitcoin or similar cryptoassets. 

The Crypto-Possibilities

What job does your 401(k) perform? Why do workers "hire" your 401(k)? Why does the "customer" sign up for your 401(k)? Remember, 70% of workers live paycheck to paycheck,¹ so why would they allocate precious take-home pay to your plan? 

My, what a quarter it’s been. At work and play, who isn’t eager for this summer to be the most awesome one ever? 

We’re seeing similar pent-up yearnings in an array of analysts’ second-quarter financial forecasts:

It’s hard to scan the financial headlines these days and not spot at least one call to action related to Bitcoin’s latest moves. Has all the attention given you cryptocurrency fever, or are you at least wondering what it’s all about?